Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Charles Schwab vs ActivTrades: Charles Schwab (founded 1971) is an online broker that is publicly traded and operates as a bank, while ActivTrades (founded 2001) is privately held and not a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab holds a Trust Score of 99/99 (highly trusted) and ActivTrades scores 80/99 (trusted). On the ForexBrokers.com scale, 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted.
Looking at regulation, Charles Schwab holds five Tier-1 licenses and zero Tier-2 licenses. ActivTrades holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. ForexBrokers.com considers Tier-1 licenses highly trusted and Tier-2 licenses trusted—useful context when comparing regulatory oversight between these two brokers.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Charles Schwab and ActivTrades both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but they take slightly different approaches to pricing. Schwab does not charge commissions on forex trades, so costs come from the bid/ask spread instead. Its average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips in October 2024, which is on the higher side compared with many brokers. Schwab also stands out for having no minimum deposit on its main brokerage accounts, and its thinkorswim platform lets traders see overnight carry costs before placing trades. Forex trading through Schwab One is settled in U.S. dollars, while Schwab Global is better suited to those trading international markets in local currencies, with conversion fees ranging from 0.2% to 1% depending on account size.
ActivTrades also charges through spreads rather than forex commissions, and its pricing is a bit better on average. The broker’s EUR/USD spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024, which is lower than Schwab’s and closer to the industry average. ActivTrades offers an Individual Account, plus Professional and Islamic account options, but it does not have special pricing for high-volume traders. Its costs can vary by asset, and spreads may widen during busy market times, especially around rollover.
In ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category, Charles Schwab ranks #25 out of 36 brokers, while ActivTrades ranks #23 out of 36. For traders mainly focused on lower everyday trading costs, ActivTrades has the edge, though both brokers receive the same 4-star rating.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.27 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.27 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Charles Schwab offers a much broader selection than ActivTrades. Schwab provides access to about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, compared with ActivTrades’ 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency. Charles Schwab also stands out for giving clients access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international markets, while ActivTrades only offers exchange-traded securities on international exchanges.
ActivTrades does have one feature Schwab does not: copy trading. Even so, Schwab’s wider product list helped it earn a 5-star rating for Range of Investments and a #5 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades received 4 stars and ranked #26. For investors looking for the widest choice of stocks, forex pairs, and market access, Charles Schwab is the stronger option overall.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Charles Schwab and ActivTrades both give traders a choice of platform types, including simulated paper trading, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Each also lets users place trades directly from a chart, which can be helpful for active traders who want to move quickly while watching price action. In overall platform quality, Charles Schwab stands out with a 5-star rating and a #7 ranking out of 36 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranks #28.
The biggest difference is in extra trading tools. ActivTrades offers copy trading plus MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which may appeal to traders who want to follow others or use the popular MetaTrader setup. Charles Schwab does not offer copy trading or MetaTrader support, so its platform lineup may feel simpler, but it still covers the core tools many traders need for everyday use. For traders comparing online broker platforms, Schwab looks stronger overall, while ActivTrades offers more flexibility for MetaTrader and social-style trading.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Charles Schwab and ActivTrades both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock and forex price alerts. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts and automatically saves those drawings, which is helpful for traders who want to review chart notes later. Both platforms make it easy to trade from a phone, but there are important differences in how much charting and account syncing they provide.
Charles Schwab stands out for mobile trading because its app includes watchlist syncing with the online account and a much larger set of chart studies, with 374 technical indicators compared with ActivTrades’ 30. It is also rated 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranks #21. For traders who want stronger mobile charting and smoother watchlist syncing, Charles Schwab has the edge.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing Charles Schwab vs ActivTrades for market research, both brokers cover the basics well. Each offers daily market commentary, forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar that tracks key global events. Neither broker includes tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading, so traders looking for those extra research features will not find them here.
The main difference is that ActivTrades includes a sentiment tool that shows the share of long and short positions across markets, while Charles Schwab does not. That edge, along with Charles Schwab’s higher Research score of 5 stars and #5 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, gives Schwab the overall lead in research. ActivTrades still earns a solid 4 stars and ranks #28, making it a decent choice, but Schwab stands out more for market research quality.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for learning support, both Charles Schwab and ActivTrades offer a strong range of educational content. Each broker provides forex or CFDs education with at least 10 learning pieces focused on those markets, along with online client webinars held at least once a month. They also both offer at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, so new traders and more experienced users can find material that fits their level.
Even with those similarities, Charles Schwab stands out for education overall. It is rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s education category, while ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranks #32. In simple terms, both brokers can help beginners learn, but Charles Schwab offers the stronger educational experience overall.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Charles Schwab is better than ActivTrades. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
Charles Schwab is a highly trusted financial institution and multi-asset broker catering to U.S.-based and international forex traders. Schwab's award-winning thinkorswim platform offers over 70 tradeable currency pairs alongside impressive tools, research, and education. That said, the broker’s forex offering is still largely limited to what is available on thinkorswim.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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Comparing online brokers Charles Schwab and ActivTrades, neither supports purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing Charles Schwab vs ActivTrades for deposits and withdrawals: Charles Schwab supports ACH/SEPA and bank wires but not PayPal or Skrill, while ActivTrades supports Skrill and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | ||
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.27 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.27 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ActivTrades Review |
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